Dehydration

It’s normal to feel thirsty in hot weather, as this is your body’s natural way of signaling that it’s time for liquid. However, dehydration – when your body has less fluid than it needs to function properly – can be dangerous, especially for children, athletes and the elderly.

Urgent Care Goshen Physicians is committed to the health of our communities and offers prompt treatment for dehydration. We take the symptoms of dehydration seriously to prevent complications. Our providers are here seven days a week, with extended hours on weekdays to treat your dehydration and restore your health.

Symptoms and causes of dehydration

The symptoms of dehydration vary, depending on the severity.

Mild and moderate symptoms include:

• Thirst
• Dry, sticky lips and mouth, including your tongue and gums
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Less urine, or not urinating as often as you normally do

Symptoms of severe dehydration require emergency care.

Call 911 or visit the emergency room for the following symptoms:

• Confusion
• Change in consciousness or alertness
• Dry and shriveled skin with little elasticity
• Severe diarrhea or vomiting
• Sunken eyes
• Muscle cramps
• Not urinating, or urinating small amounts of dark-colored urine
• In Infants less than 12 months old, no wet diapers for several hours and fewer tears than normal

Infants with severe dehydration present other symptoms, such as:

• Limp body posture
• Sunken fontanelle (soft spot on top of the head)
• Fussiness or appearing very sleepy

Treatment

When you or a loved one visits us with signs of dehydration, our urgent care team assesses your symptoms to determine the type of dehydration treatment you need. For mild dehydration, sipping drinks with electrolytes cures the dehydration. If blood tests and urine samples indicate severe dehydration, hospitalization may be required to replenish fluids through IV and monitor for complications.